Fargo Review: The Birthplace of Civilization (Season 4 Episode 5)
The Cannon-Fadda conflict claims its first major causality on Fargo Season 4 Episode 5, “The Birthplace of Civilization.” While it’s not a terribly surprising death, it is a sad one that comes too soon.
Doctor Senator’s fate is sealed almost from his very first scenes of the season. Easily one of the most likable and sympathetic characters, his chances of surviving the season have always been bleak.
It’s not just because loyal, wise friends always have short lifespans on shows like this, but because he’s a stabilizing force in a landscape where the status quo is unravelling, and volatile variables like Oraetta and Gaetano are upending any ability to make thoughtful moves.
There is no way a character like that survives the break down of unspoken rules and long-held expectations. Doctor’s role in this story was always going to be an escalating motivation for more direct conflict between the two families.
Perhaps the only surprising thing about his demise is how soon it comes.
So far, every escalation of the Cannon-Fadda conflict has been walked back to some extent by the next episode. This feels like something that can’t be walked back. Loy has to respond to this even though Josto isn’t a part of Doctor’s murder.
At this point, it doesn’t matter. The Faddas and their internal power struggle are an immediate threat that can’t be ignored or made right by small scale retaliation.
Of course, that’s exactly what Gaetano wants. If any strategy or intentionality can be attributed to Gaetano at all, and that’s arguable, it’s that he wants the violence of a full-on war with the Cannons. More than he wants the win, he wants the fight.
Josto and Rabbi finally acknowledge that more drastic action needs to be taken to deal with Gaetano on “The Birthplace of Civilization,” but it’s too little too late. At this point, it’s hard to see how they avoid war even if Gaetano is taken out on the next episode.
Despite major plot developments, “The Birthplace of Civilization” is a disappointing episode.
There isn’t much to say about the installment other than it’s boring. It lacks the visual flair and emotional tension of the earlier episodes. The episode trudges along to different plot points, feeling flat and generic.
There are a few exceptions. Leaving aside the unnecessary rape references, scenes with Zelmare and Swanee are always at least interesting, and Zelmare’s interaction with Ethelrida is endearing even if she is offering terrible advice.
Doctor Senator’s final scene in the diner before he’s shot is, like all of Doctor Senator’s scenes this season, a highlight of the episode and, in this case, the standout scene of the whole thing even if it is the final nail in his coffin.
Still, if a show is going to ask viewers to stick with it for 80 minutes every week, these episodes need more than a few good scenes. The series needs to offer more than plot progression, and this episode doesn’t.
Hopefully, the next episode can take the dully executed, but important, developments introduced on “The Birthplace of Civilization” and do something more exciting with them.
Stray Thoughts
- Thurman seems awful nonchalant when he says he thinks Oraetta poisoned the pie. Shouldn’t that be more upsetting?
- Ethelrida is smart, but putting together that Oraetta is a serial killer just based on what she saw in the closet still seems like a bit of a stretch.
- Relatedly, how has Ethelrida not noticed her notebook is missing? If she knows Oreatta is dangerous and possibly tried to poison her and her family, shouldn’t she be more concerned?
- The casual references to sexual assault are offputting and don’t serve much of a purpose. It’s a lazy trope.
- I’m glad Loy decides not to kill Zelmare and Swanee yet. I’m sure whatever he has planned for them isn’t great, but I’m glad they are sticking around a bit longer.
- Josto is becoming less and less interesting with each episode, as are most of the Faddas. While Constant is still interesting enough (mostly because of Gaetano Bruno’s performance), Rabbi is the only one I care about at this point.
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Fargo airs Sundays at 10/9c on FX.
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Sarah Fields
Sarah is an obsessive geek who likes to get into the weeds and over think things. She is passionate about Sci-Fi and comics and is a giant classic film nerd. Sarah cares deeply about media representation and the power of telling diverse stories. When she's not writing or watching her favorite shows she spends her days working in the non-profit world trying to make life a little better for those that need some extra help.